Amber
Well, this was a bit boring. I'm massively disappointed in The Power because I picked it up after Alderman won a tonne of awards, including the Bailey's prize, and I thought it was going to be a modern classic. I was expecting something epic.
Don't get me wrong, I loved the concept. The idea of women gaining a superpower and changing the world (not necessarily in a good way) had me all excited. I couldn't wait to see how Alderman painted a world in which women are able to run things without fear. A world in which men had to worry constantly about their safety. However, Alderman's execution was not on point. I feel like her writing style let her down.
I think the beginning of The Power was a lot stronger than the middle and the end (minus the last few pages, which I actually really enjoyed). I think with some more editing, or perhaps a few stronger or harder hitting scenes, the book would have been better. Unfortunately it kind of drifted off into a sea of blandness and I stopped caring about any of the characters and their shenanigans.
I'd probably liken my feelings towards this book to my feelings towards Station Eleven. I acknowledge that it's a decent book, but I feel like it's overhyped and it certainly didn't deliver what I wanted. It'll stick with me, though. Especially with what was said in those letters on the last few pages.
